Former President Ronald Reagan died Saturday at his home in Los Angeles. He was 93.

Reagan led a conservative revolution that set the economic and cultural tone of the 1980s, hastened the end of the Cold War and revitalized the Republican Party. He suffered from Alzheimer's disease since at least late 1994.

At least two of his children and his wife, Nancy, were at his bedside, according to the former president's Los Angeles office.Ron Reagan Jr. and Patty Davis -- children from his current marriage to Nancy Davis Reagan -- were with him at his home in the Bel Air district of Los Angeles, the office said.It was unclear whether Michael Reagan, his adopted son from his first marriage to actress Jane Wyman, was at his side. Maureen Reagan, his daughter from that marriage, died of brain cancer in 2001.

President Bush was informed of Reagan's death while in Paris, where he is on tour to honor the heroes of World War II on the weekend of the 60th anniversary of the D-Day invasion.The White House lowered its flag to half-staff after the news. Bush planned to issue a recorded statement later.

Michael Reagan released a statement soon after his father's death.

"I pray that as America reflects on the passing of my Dad, they will remember a man of integrity, conviction and good humor that changed America and the world for the better," Michael Reagan said. "He would modestly say the credit goes to others, but I believe the credit is his."

Reagan was praised by presidential historian Robert Dallek.

"He restored a kind of confidence in the presidency, and a better mood in the United States about politics and politicians and about the presidency," Dallek said.

I cried buckets full of tears when President Reagan died. Was glued to my tv to watch the funeral events, and later visited his grave shortly after his passing with a group of California FReepers, including JimRob. Will never forget.

23
posted on 06/05/2011 2:24:01 PM PDT
by Wolfstar
("If you would win a man to your cause, first convince him that you are his friend." Abraham Lincoln)

I lived in Ireland during the first years of Reagan’s presidency. The leftist scum over there were putting up anti-US propaganda posters showing a cartoon of Reagan wearing an Uncle Sam outfit and shooting “innocent” Middle East Arabs . . . ridiculous how bad the anti-US propaganda was back then; it’s far worse now.

Would like to add a reminder to all those FReepers who glibly and foolishly disrespect California, calling it Calli, Kalli, Kalifornia, and wanting to give it back to Mexico or divorce it from the other 49 states. President Reagan loved this state dearly. He lived here most of his life, from the 1930's until his death, with only those eight years of his presidency spent elsewhere. RWR retired to his beloved Rancho del Cielo in the hills above Santa Barbara, and spent his last years in his Bel Air home. RWR's presidential library is here, as his his grave. One day Nancy will be buried beside him.

So California is worth fighting for, people. Don't dismiss it so easily.

28
posted on 06/05/2011 2:36:00 PM PDT
by Wolfstar
("If you would win a man to your cause, first convince him that you are his friend." Abraham Lincoln)

Would like to add a reminder to all those FReepers who glibly and foolishly disrespect California, calling it Calli, Kalli, Kalifornia, and wanting to give it back to Mexico or divorce it from the other 49 states. President Reagan loved this state dearly.

Don't worry about them.

Most of those willing to give up the best to settle for less, are not the ones ya want in a foxhole with ya.

Most of them are just pissed they're in a place where the winters resemble the inside of my icebox, with summers being like the surface of Mercury, but with uninhabitable sweltering humidity.

30
posted on 06/05/2011 2:44:04 PM PDT
by dragnet2
(Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)

The put a picture of President Reagan on the infield matrix board; and I knew. After a brief delay, there was a PA announcement and people were asked to stand in silence in memory of the late President. The place was absolutely quiet. Afterward a couple of my daughter's friends asked respectful questions about the President, and I answered.

It was 1986. I was flown in to DC as a delegate to my fraternity. The hotel picked me up at the airport. The driver said “get in the car, as fast as you can!!”. I complied and he said he had a surprise for me. Upon reaching the hotel, he said “I’m taking your bags in. Go stand there on the curb. President Reagan will be arriving any minute!!” Well, sure enough, in came the motorcade. I was one of a few people standing there on the hotel corner curb to the basement entrance. The President waved at us and I got a pic of it. I then went in to the hotel to check in, then went downstairs to the ballrooms. The Secret Service blocked each door and eyeballed me as I stood there to listen to that golden voice booming through the corridors. I’ll never forget the selflessness and hustle of that hotel driver for allowing me to witness the Great One.

35
posted on 06/05/2011 3:22:03 PM PDT
by LittleBillyInfidel
(This tagline has been formatted to fit the screen. Some content has been edited.)

I had a bottle of 1989 Mouton Rothschild bought in the early 1990s sitting around waiting for an appropriate occasion. For those not familiar with that wine it is famous for a commissioned artist to design a label each year so each vintage has it's own unique design. For 1989 the design showed two upside down sheep. The artist Georg Baselitz was commemorating the fall of the Berlin Wall. I opened it up and drank to Ronald Reagan the day of his funeral.

My most memorable moment was Margaret Thatcher approaching the casket and then laying her hand upon the flag draped over it. You could see the sorrow she felt at his loss and great affection she held for him.

39
posted on 06/05/2011 3:36:40 PM PDT
by kalee
(The offenses we give, we write in the dust; Those we take, we engrave in marble. J Huett 1658)

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